The weekend
Saturday was a busy day. In the early afternoon, I drove all the hell way out to Stone Mountain Park for a little LJ get together, mostly folks lemon_says knows. Since they all had small kids, the idea was to meet at the big-ass playground they have on the opposite side of the mountain. But the road was closed.
As living proof that private entities are so much better at providing service than government, the private company that operates the state park that is Stone Mountain Park decided to pick late September to mid-October as the perfect time to repave several miles of the loop road, effectively blocking off access to several miles of the park, including the playground. It's a good thing the weather is always terrible in early fall here in Atlanta and there aren't any festivals scheduled for the park this time of year.
Luckily, the highly efficient, customer service oriented, and market driven private company was sure to warn all visitors to the park that the road is closed by posting the information on the website and letting people know at the entrance, as they paid the $8 entry fee.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
No. No, they didn't.
In spite of private enterprise's best efforts (and the Invisible Hand of the Market is doing so well lately), we all had a good time anyway. The road closed at Confederate Hall, which has a sizeable lawn, a low wall to jump on, and a couple of good climbing trees. Throw in blankets and a few soccer balls, and kids younger than six have no problems amusing themselves without getting themselves killed. Especially with a dozen or so hyper-alert adults (including one grandma) keeping an eye on them to prevent death and/or dismemberment.
Pictures of the afternoon are here. Beware the cuteness!
After two Saturday afternoons in a row wrangling very small people, I spent the night with adults seeing a very adult show. Not like that.
missy_carter and I went to the Vortex for burgers (since our first choice, Solstice, was closed for a private event and we both had a hankering for a burger) and then to Dad's Garage to see the 10th anniversary remount of Cannibal! The Musical. Neither of us saw it the first go 'round, so it was new to both of us.
I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Master of Gore rotzo_the_clown was there so we could compliment him on his effects (the steaming skull and the cyclops's eye were particularly awesome). Well, he wasn't there for our compliments, but since he was there we said "hi" anyway. We also saw some other folks I hadn't seen down there in quite a while, which is always a good thing.
Anyway, highly recommended show. Just don't bring the kids. That's what Uncle Grampa's Hoo Dilly Story Time is for. Cannibal! really is a musical, though you don't necessarily want to hear all of the cast singing. Luckily, those who can't sing but do either play it for laughs or are completely lost in the sheep. Yes, sheep. A couple of them really can belt it out, though, and they're worth hearing. They'll leave you with a heart as full as a baked potato!
Incidentally, Troma is releasing a "13th anniversary edition" of the DVD of the movie in mid-November. Hopefully, it will have the same footage of the original Dad's production that's on the current version of the DVD.
Sunday I watched football and baseball. I also got gas, but I only put in another half-tank ($30) in the hopes of watching the price of gas (I paid $4.29) drop in the next couple of weeks.
Tonight, I drive all the hell way out to Snellville for a college fair.
As living proof that private entities are so much better at providing service than government, the private company that operates the state park that is Stone Mountain Park decided to pick late September to mid-October as the perfect time to repave several miles of the loop road, effectively blocking off access to several miles of the park, including the playground. It's a good thing the weather is always terrible in early fall here in Atlanta and there aren't any festivals scheduled for the park this time of year.
Luckily, the highly efficient, customer service oriented, and market driven private company was sure to warn all visitors to the park that the road is closed by posting the information on the website and letting people know at the entrance, as they paid the $8 entry fee.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
No. No, they didn't.
In spite of private enterprise's best efforts (and the Invisible Hand of the Market is doing so well lately), we all had a good time anyway. The road closed at Confederate Hall, which has a sizeable lawn, a low wall to jump on, and a couple of good climbing trees. Throw in blankets and a few soccer balls, and kids younger than six have no problems amusing themselves without getting themselves killed. Especially with a dozen or so hyper-alert adults (including one grandma) keeping an eye on them to prevent death and/or dismemberment.
Pictures of the afternoon are here. Beware the cuteness!
After two Saturday afternoons in a row wrangling very small people, I spent the night with adults seeing a very adult show. Not like that.
missy_carter and I went to the Vortex for burgers (since our first choice, Solstice, was closed for a private event and we both had a hankering for a burger) and then to Dad's Garage to see the 10th anniversary remount of Cannibal! The Musical. Neither of us saw it the first go 'round, so it was new to both of us.
I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Master of Gore rotzo_the_clown was there so we could compliment him on his effects (the steaming skull and the cyclops's eye were particularly awesome). Well, he wasn't there for our compliments, but since he was there we said "hi" anyway. We also saw some other folks I hadn't seen down there in quite a while, which is always a good thing.
Anyway, highly recommended show. Just don't bring the kids. That's what Uncle Grampa's Hoo Dilly Story Time is for. Cannibal! really is a musical, though you don't necessarily want to hear all of the cast singing. Luckily, those who can't sing but do either play it for laughs or are completely lost in the sheep. Yes, sheep. A couple of them really can belt it out, though, and they're worth hearing. They'll leave you with a heart as full as a baked potato!
Incidentally, Troma is releasing a "13th anniversary edition" of the DVD of the movie in mid-November. Hopefully, it will have the same footage of the original Dad's production that's on the current version of the DVD.
Sunday I watched football and baseball. I also got gas, but I only put in another half-tank ($30) in the hopes of watching the price of gas (I paid $4.29) drop in the next couple of weeks.
Tonight, I drive all the hell way out to Snellville for a college fair.